Carton-marker.



G. H. LANG.

CARTON MARKER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14, 1909.

Patented Mar. 12, 1912.

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I G. H. LANG.

CARTON MARKER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY14, 1909.

1,019,971. Patented Mar.l2, 1912.

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GEORGE H. LANG, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

CARTON-MARKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 12, 1912.

Application filed July 14, 1909. Serial No. 507,521.

Yb all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. LANG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Carton-Markers, of which the following description, in connect-ion with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to a carton marking machine adapted for marking characters on cartons, and the machine herein shown has been particularly designed for marking characters indicating the style and size of a shoe on shoe boxes.

In some respects the invention is an improvement on the device shown in my copending application Se. No. 4:4;7,377, filed August 7, 1908.

The objects of the present invention are to provide a novel device for inking the type disks which will operate to ink said disks more evenly than would be possible with a fixed pad such as commonly used; to provide a carton-marking machine adapted to mark on the bottom as well as on the end or side of a carton; to provide a novel form of typedisk having removable type so that a change of type may be eifect-ed without changing the disk; to provide a novel device for alining the type-disks, and to otherwise improve the construction, all as will be more fully hereinafter described and then pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows partly in section and partly in elevation a printing machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the aliner detached; Fig. 3 is a side View of the lower end of the carrier for the inking pad; Fig. 1 is a section on the line wm, Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a detail of one of the type disks showing the manner of adjusting it; Fig. 6 is a detail showing part of the indicating portion of the segmental gears by which the type-disks are set; Fig. 7 is a section through the type-wheel on the line yy, Fig. 5, said figure showing the spacers and some other parts in dotted lines; Fig. 8 is a section on the line cd, Fig. 5; Fig. 9 is a section through the platen on the line bb, Fig. 1; Fig. 10 is a detail of one part of the holder for holding the movable type plates in place.

The machine herein shown has the same general features as the printing machine shown in my Patents No. 864,790 and No. 877,658, that is, it comprises a printing head 2 mounted on the end of a vibrating arm 3 which is pivoted at 1 to the frame 5 and which is given its vibrating movement by means of a crank disk 6 and link 7. The printing head 2 moves toward and from a platen or rest 8 on which the carton to be marked is supported. The printing head comprises a plurality of type-disks 9, all of which are loosely mounted on a rod or shaft 10 carried by the printing head, and each of which has rigid therewith a pinion 11 that meshes with a segmental gear 12 mounted on a rod 13 carried by the printing head and provided with a handle 14 by which it may be turned thereby to turn the type-disk to bring any of the desired type thereon into operative position. The machines shown in my above-mentioned patents have these same features of construction, so that further description thereof is not necessary herein. The devices shown in said patents, however, have the type cut directly on the face of the type-disks so that in order to change the type it is necessary to remove the type-disk and substitute a new one thereof. In my present improvement I have provided each type-disk with removable type sections which can be readily removed whenever it is desired to substitute different type for those in use. In the embodiment herein shown these removable type sections are designated 15, and each one is retained on the type-disk by two fingers, one of which is yielding and the other of which is non-yielding, said fingers being designated 16 and 17 respectively. As herein shown all the fingers 17 for one type-disk are made integral with a ring or band 18 which overlies the side of the disk and is secured thereon, and all the fingers 16 are made integral with a similar ring or band 19 which overlies the other side of the typedisk. These spider-like members such as shown in Fig. 10 can be readily stamped out of sheet metal and the material of which the band 19 and fingers 16 are cut may be stiff enoughto be practically unyielding, while the material from which the band 19 and fingers 17 are cut is resilient so that the fingers will yield.

type wheel without the necessity of changing the wheel itself.

The type wheels are normally held in their adjusted position by means of the retainers 25 which are pivotally hung on a rod 26 carried by the printing head 2, each retainer having a rounded end to engage the teeth of the pinion 11, as clearly seen in Fig. 5. The retainers are held against the teeth of the pinion by means of springs 27, each of which is coiled around the rod 26, and one end of which engages a retainer 25, while the other end rests against the front plate 28 of the head. Sustained on the rod 26 are separators or spacers 29 which sepa rate the segmental gears 12 and hold them properly spaced from each other. Each separator is provided with a groove 30 in which a spring 27 is received.

The type-disks are alined and locked in their alined position by means of an aliner 31 which is in the form of a bar extending the length of the printing head, and it has a beveled edge adapted to enter the V- shaped notches 32 formed in the type-disks 16 shown in my above-mentioned patents. In the present embodiment of my invention, this aliner bar 31 is rigidly carried by two arms 33 that are slotted at one end, as at 34, and are slotted at the other end, as at 35. The arms 33 he on the outside of the printing head 2 and the slots 34 receive the projecting ends of the rod 10 which extend from the sides of the head, as clearly seen in Fig. 1. The slots 35 receive studs 37 extending from the frame of the machine, as also seen in Fig. 1. Springs 39 are connected at one end to the arm 3, as at 40, and at the other end to the arms 33, said springs acting to keep the aliner normally in its forward position. Owing to the fact that the pivot 37 about which the aliner arms swing is situated nearer the printing head than the pivot 4 about which the arm 3 turns, it will-follow that as the printing head is-depressed, the aliner will move forwardly into engagement with the type-disk, and by entering the notches 32 therein will aline the type and lock them in alined position while the printing is being done. If, for an reason, the type-disk should be improper y set so that the aliner bar would strike the type, then the spring 39 would yield sufiiciently to prevent any injury to the type. I

In my patents above referred to the inking device is in the form of an ink pad can ried by swinging arms and adapted to come into contact with the type when the print ing head is in its elevated position. With this form of inking device the same part of the pad will always be brought into contact with the type and the type will soon cause a depression to be made in the pad so that the type do not become properly inked, this being especially true if a certain portion of the type is used more than other portions thereof. I have provided a novel inking device which is in the form of a cylindrical pad so sustained that each time that it is brought into contact with the type, it will be turned about its axis and a fresh surface thereof will be used for inking. This inking pad is shown in Fig. 4, and it comprises a plurality of felt disks or washers 42 that are loosely mounted on a sleeve or tubular member 43 and are confined between heads 44 also mounted on said tubular member 43. The inking pad thus constructed is sustained by a rod 45 which extends through the tubular member 43, and this spindle or rod is loosely sustained in two arms 46 that overlie the sides of the printing head 2 and are pivot-ally sustained on pins 97 extending therefrom. Each arm is shown as slotted at 47 so as to permit the ready insertion or removal of the inking pad. The rod 45 hasfixed thereto at one end a head 48 and at the other end has adjustably secured thereto another head 49, the latter head having a screw-threaded shank 50 to enter a screw-threaded bore in the end of the rod 45. The outer sides of the arms 46 are provided with the annular recesses 51 adapted to receive the heads 49 and 48. To remove the inking pad the head 49 is turned to unscrew the stem 50 from the rod 45 sufiiciently to permit the head 49 to be removed from the recess 51, after which the pad may be moved laterally through the slots 47. When the inking pad is in place with the heads 48, 49 occupying the recesses 51, the pad is held in posit-ion owing to the fact that the slots 47 are of less width than the diameter of the recesses 51. When the pad is thus supported, however, it can be freely turned and each time that it is brought against the type it will be turned slightly on its axis so that a fresh surface will always be used in inking the type. The two arms 46 are shown as connected by a crossbar or guard member 53 which protects the ink pad. Provision is made for adjusting the arms 46 vertically so as to cause the inking pad to properly engage the type-disks. This is accomplished by providing the arms 46 with the slots 95 in which are slidably received the blocks 96 that fit over the pins 97 and by providing adjusting screws 98 that have screwthreaded engagement with the arms and engage the blocks 96. By adjusting said screws, the arms may be raised and lowered,

as will be obvious. Each arm has a spring 99 which takes up back lash.

In the device shown in my application Se. No. 447,377, filed August 7, 1908, a platen is shown adapted to support a carton so that it may be printed on the end. It is sometimes desirable to print cartons on the bottom, and in my present invention, I have shown a form of platen and its support which permits this to be done. As shown in Fig. 1, the base 5 of the device has extending therefrom an arm 54 having a goose-neck shape on the end of which the platen 8 is sustained. The platen is shown as provided with a body having a T-slot or groove 55 on its under side into which the head 56 of a clamping screw 57 is received, said screw being screw-threaded into the end of the goose-neck arm 54. This arm also supports two leveling screws 58 which have screwthreaded engagement with the arm 54 and are provided with heads which rest against the bottom of the platen. By turning the clamping screw 57 down, the platen will be clamped against the heads of the leveling screws 58, but said platen may be readily adjusted longitudinally by merely backing off the clamping screw 57 sufficiently to release the platen from the leveling screws. By adjusting the leveling screws relative to each other, the upper surface of the platen may be brought into different angular positions as desired. The screws 58, therefore, act both to level up the platen and also to assist in clam-ping it in position. The platen carries a pad 59 of rubber or similar resilient material. When it is desired to print on the bottom of the box, the box or carton is placed over the platen 8 with the end thereof occupying the goose-neck, as shown in dot-ted lines Fig. 1.

60 is a gage which is adjustably mounted on the frame and is held in adjusted position by a clamping screw 61. This gage can be set so as to position the carton properly during the printing operation.

The segmental gears 12 are provided with indicating plates 89 which bear characters similar to those on the type sections 15. These indicating plates 89 are removable from the segments and may be held in position by any suitable means, such as screws 88.

I have herein shown the platen as provided with the extensible arms or fingers 7 3 which are sustained in the T-slot and are clamped in position by clamping screws 74. These extensible fingers are of assistance in properly positioning the box or carton on the platen and they also permit cartons of difierent sizes to be accurately positioned. In using the device, these fingers are adjusted so that when the box is placed over the platen they will engage the sides thereof and by adjusting them they can be placed so as to position the box' properly for receiving the printed impression in the desired place.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a frame having a platen support, of a plurality of screws having screw-threaded engagement with said support, a platen resting on certain of said screws, one of said screws constituting a clamping screw and having a sliding swivel connection with the platen and operating to clamp the platen against the other screw, said clamping screw having a portion accessible between the support and platen by which it may be turned.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a frame having a platen support, of a plurality of screws having screw-threaded engagement with said support, a platen resting on certain of said screws, one of said screws constituting a clamping screw and having a sliding swivel connection with the platen and operating to clamp the platen against the other screw, each of the screws having a portion accessible between the support and platen by which it may be turned.

3. In a device of the'class described, the combination with a frame having a platen support, of two leveling screws having screw threaded engagement with said support, a platen resting on the leveling screws, a clamping screw having an adjustable swivel connection with the platen and screw threaded into the support, said clamping screw having a portion by'which it may be turned accessible between the support and the platen.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a platen support, of'two leveling screws having screw threaded engagement with said support and provided with heads above the support by which they may be turned, a platen resting on said heads, and a clamping screw having an adjustable swivel connection with the platen and a screw threaded connection with said support.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a frame having a platen support, of two leveling screws having screw-threaded engagement with said support, a platen resting on said leveling screws, a clamping screw having a sliding swivel connection with the platen and screw-threaded into the support, said clamping screw having a portion accessible between the support and platen by which it may be turned.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination with a frame having a platen support, of a platen resting on said support and provided with a T-slot in its under face, and a clamping screw screw-threaded into said support and having a head occupying-said slot.

7. In a carton marker, the combination with a main frame or base having a platensustalnlng armshaped to present a downivardly-extending portion, a forwardly-extending portion and an upwardly-extending portion, of a platen extending transversely of the platen-sustaining arm and sustained by the upper end of the upwardly-extending portion thereof, said platen being adj ustable in the direction of its length and transversely of the arm, and means to clamp said platen in adjusted position.

8. In a carton marker, the combination with a supporting base vhaving the platen sustaining arm shaped to present a clownwardly extending portion, a forwardly extending portion and an upwardly extending portion, of a platen sustained by the upper end of the upwardly extending portion, a gagecarried by the arm at the upper end of the downwardly extending portion, a printinghead and means .to move the latter toward and from the platen.

9. In a carton marker, the combination with a main frame or base having a platensustaining arm shaped to present a downwardly extendlng portion, a forwardly extending portion and an upwardly extending portion, of a platen extending transversely of the platen-sustaining arm and sustained by the upper end of the forwardly extending portion thereof, said platen being adjustable in the direction of its length and transversely of the arm, means to clamp the platen in adjustable position, and a gage sustained by said arm at the upper end of the. downwardly extending portion.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination with a platen having a T-slot or groove on its under side, of two leveling screws on which the platen rest-s, and a clamping "screw having a head received in said groove and adapted to clamp the platen against the leveling screws.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination with a printing head having adjust-able type, of two arms pivoted to said printing head, each arm having a slot and an annular recess in its side, aninking roll comprising a spindle having heads on its ends adapted to be received in said recesses,

onefi'of said heads being screw-threaded to the spindle, and a cylindrical inking pad sustained by said spindle.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination with a printing head having type, of two arms pivoted to said printing head, each arm having a slot and an annular recess in its side, and an inking roll comprising a spindle having heads on its ends adapted to be received in said recesses, one of said heads being movable longitudinally of the spindle to permit the inking roll to be placed in or removed from the arms.

13. In a printing machine, the combination with a printing head having a plural ity of type-disks each having a pinion rigid therewith, of gears meshing with the pinions for setting said disks and a rod situated outside the periphery of the gears, and spacing blocks on said rod and situated between and spacing the gears relative to each other.

14. In a printing machine, the combination with a printing head having a plurality of adjustable type-disks, and a pin extending from each side thereof, of two slotted arms overlying the sides of the printing head with the slots embracing said pins, and an aliner bar carried by the slotted arms and adapted to aline the type-disks.

15. In a deviceof the class described, the combination with a platen support, of a longitudinally-adjustable platen thereon, means to change the angular position of the platen relative to the support, a clamping screw having an adjustable swivel connection with the platen and screw-threaded into the support for clamping the platen to the support, said screw having means accessible between the platen and support by which it may be operated, and a printing head movable toward and from the platen.

16. In a device of the class described, the combination with a platen, of means for supporting the platen, which means permits a carton to be placed over the platen, an extensible gage finger extending beyond the platen at each end thereof, said gage fingers being independent of each other, a printing head, means to move the printing head and platen relative to each other. j

17. In a printing head for printing machines the combination with a casing having an open front, of a plurality of adjustable type disks sustained by said casing, actuating members geared to saidtype disks and provided with handles by which they may be'turned, and removable indicating plates carried by each of the actuating members and bearing characters corresponding to the characters on the type disks, said indicating plates being situated to be exposed and removable through the open front of the casmg. In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE H. LANG. Witnesses LoUIs C. SMITH, THOMAS J. DRUMMOND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. (3.? 

